Darwin LaMar Strickland

Darwin LaMar Strickland age 58, of Arapahoe, Nebraska, died on Friday, May 29, 2015 at his home. Darwin was born on February 23, 1957 to Clifford H. and Bonnie June (Helton) Strickland, at the old St. Catherine’s Hospital, in McCook, Nebraska. As a youth, Darwin lived on the Strickland homestead southwest of Beaver City, Nebraska with his parents and brothers, and in the community of Beaver City, NE. As he grew older the family moved to the community of Arapahoe, NE, along with brief periods of residing in Arcadia, Kearney, and Lexington, Nebraska. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver, Colorado with the class of 1976. Darwin created many memories growing up with his brothers and cousins on the farms and around town. He had the biggest kind and caring heart with a youthful soul that would give to every person and help anyone in need. He was an ornery one with a sense of humor that filled everyone’s spirit. As a young boy after church he often filled the the local Dairy Queen with his buck naked spirit. He so enjoyed being the tag along to his older brothers and his many cousin companions. Darwin was a great big brother and protector to his little sister, whom he liked to tease, but also loved to take to car shows, movies, the zoo, the circus, and everywhere imaginable. Darwin participated in Boy Scouts and baseball, just to name a few of his boyhood activities. Darwin was a great artist working in a variety of mediums and had an incredible talent for woodworking. He crafted wood creations that the family all cherished. Darwin loved racing cars. We often wondered how his need for speed always deterred the ability to obtain speeding tickets and maintain a motor vehicle operator’s license this long in life, let’s just say, riding with Darwin was like riding in Talladega! He always dreamed of becoming a professional race car driver and would follow NASCAR and local stock car racing events, in his spare time. When given the chance, he even enjoyed mechanical work on race cars. Not many people know this, but Darwin and his father, completely rebuilt his sister’s car from the ground up. Darwin is to be remembered as one whom cannot sit idle and have time go by. He began working as a teenager riding his ten speed bike to the office furniture store he worked at for over 15 years. While working at this furniture store, Darwin also worked part-time as assistant manager at Cinderella Twin Drive-In Theatre. Through the experience of working at this office furniture store, Darwin installed office furniture systems in most every office building in the Metro Denver area and also had travels to Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout his life, he found other employment experiences but also had the pleasure of working construction with his father and moved with his parents to Bella Vista, Arkansas. Darwin returned to Denver, Colorado and lived in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas working construction jobs until he moved out to Arapahoe, NE where he enjoyed his time working for the ten Bensel Family Farm. Darwin enjoyed working in the farming life in his home community. Darwin has many special people in his life that he has touched in his unique and fun way. He will be missed by all who love and cherish him. You are a fighter and fought the good fight, be at peace. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and his brother Dalton L. Strickland He is survived by his brothers: Doug and wife Deena Strickland of North Loup, Nebraska Richard and wife Marlene Strickland of Lakewood, Colorado Sister: Dallis Strickland of Arapahoe, Nebraska Sisters-in-law: Dinna Ramos Strickland of Laguna, Philippines Aunt: Lila Adams of Arapahoe, Nebraska And many cousins, nieces, nephews. Special honorary family: The ten Bensel Family; Dean and Wanda, Toby and Mary, Troy and Tina, Dane, Drew, Kaitlyn Christopher and Jennifer Kruger, Jacob and Terri Putnam, & Andy Manley Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com There will be no viewing or visitation. Funeral services will be Friday, June 5, 2015 at 1:30 PM the First United Methodist Church, in Arapahoe, Nebraska with Pastor Becky Saddler, officiating. Inurnment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, in Beaver City, Nebraska. Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.